Conveyer for manipulating cylindrical articles



Oct. 17, 1933. A.'B. BRADLEY CONVEYER FOR MANIPULATING CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES 7 Filed Nov. 16. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Oct 17, 1933. A. B. BRADLEY 1,930,641

CONVEYER FOR MANIPULATING CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Filed Nov. 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATI' NEYS Oct. 17, 1933. A. B. BRADLEY GONVEYER FOR MANIPULATING CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Filed Nov. 16. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR W L Oct. 17, 1933. A. B. BRADLEY CONVEYBR FOR HANIPULATING CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 16, 1932 INVENTOR M n/ LB. lad-L.

Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES CONVEYER FOR. MANIPUIQATING CYLIN- DRICAL narrows Alonzo B. Bradley, Nyack, N. Y., assignor to The 7 Fibre Conduit Company, Orangeburg, N. 2., a corporation of New York Application November 16, 1932 Serial No. 642,849

11 Claims. (Cl. 198127) This invention relates to a type of conveyer pri marily intended for the handling of cylindrical articles, for example fibre ducts, in drying ovens, and the improvement herein described has especial advantages when used in that connection, but is also susceptible of a wider application.

The type of conveyer andthe method of handling cylindrical bodies thereon, to which this improvement relates, are set forth in'an application for U. S. Patent of John P. Keller, Serial No. 530,709, filed 'April 16; 1931.

The conveyer shown in'this Keller application comprises a series of rolls mounted in a substantially horizontal plane with their axes fixed as to movement of translation both-with relation to each other and to their support. The rolls are all driven at the same speed in clockwise of the rolls and cylindrical bodies and the spac ing of the roll axes are such that the cylindrical bodies will lie in the bights between the rolls out of contact with each other and will be in free axial rotation in the drying oven until a movement of translation is imparted to carry them forward,

In practice, the successive impulses of'translation are initiated by imparting to the rearmost body on the train of rolls, a thrust in the direction of feed through a new body fed to the conveyer, so that the drying period of the cylindrical bodies is determined by the period of intermission between the feeding in of new bodies and by the length of the train of rolls in the drying oven.

The present improvement relates to improved means for feeding cylindrical bodies to the conveyer and initiating the movements of translation of the bodies over the train of rolls.

As herein illustrated and described, the invention is applied to five superposed conveyers which may be simultaneously or selectively charged if desired, according to whether all or only certain of them are supplied with bodies to be treated. Thus the output of the drier as a.

whole .may be regulated in accordance with the each bodymoving from one bight to the next.

supply of raw articles from theforming machine, which supply may vary with demand.

In carrying out my invention, as applied to, handling fibre ducts directly from the forming, machine, the raw ducts are supplied at'aloading or supply station to a transfer chain, the operation of which, (initiated when successive ducts are placed upon the chain), charges the advance rolls of the conveyer train or trains with ducts to be dried, and intermittently imparts feeding movements to such ducts, in cooperation with the tractive eifect of the rolls upon the ducts, to give movements of translation of the. ducts through successive steps of their progress over the train of rolls from the charging to the discharging end of the oven, the ducts. being given, in the intermissions of their movements of translation, free axial rotation, by reason of their. tractive engagement with the conveyerrolls.

The movements of translation are initiated in the present invention, by an improved pusher feeding mechanism cooperating withthe conveyer rolls and adapted toengage one of a plurality of cylindrical bodies in the bights of the rolls and impart a broadside advancing movement to said bodies over said rolls frombight to bight. The pusher member proper has" a U-shaped body. faced with a flexible contacting material which avoids injury to the moist raw bodies introduced upon the roll conveyer in the dryer.

The feeding mechanism of the present invention comprises means for supplying, at predetermined intervals, ducts or the liketo the bight between the first two rolls of a train of rolls, or to a number of such trainsgif more than one be used; means for impartingto the'duct or ducts so supplied, a motion inthe direction of feed so as to initiate a movement of translation of all of the ducts on the conveyers; and means oper-, ated when ducts are successively placed upon the. chain'for initiating these movements, together, with other details of mechanism and methods of operation, all of which'will'be described in the following specification, reference being made to the claims forthe novel combinations and methods involved.

' Inthe accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention by way of example,

Figure 1 is a horizontal'sectional view of the ..machine at the feed end of the conveyer, only a part'of the train of rolls being shown'and the entire delivery or discharge'end-of the machine being cut away. The figure also show'sthe mato indicate that theactual proportionate width of the machine is greater than that here shown; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same end of the machine exhibited in Figure 1, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows. Thepusher mechanism is shown in retracted position; V

Figure 3 is a side View of the same end of the machine with part of a side frame for the'trans-" fer mechanism broken away adjacent the loading station. The pusher actuating mechanism is shown in the position it occupies when the pusher mechanism is'in the retracted position shown in Figurez; 1 I

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detail vertical sectional views of the feed end of the conveyer train illustrating successive positions of a pusher arm as it moves from the position shown in Figureilf Figure 7 is a detail vertical sectional elevation illustrating the method of discharging'a duct from a the transfer chain;

-'Figures 8,9 and 1 0 are detail sectional views illustrating three successivepositions of a duct uponthe runway leading to the 'ccnveyer rolls after discharge from the transfer chain;

Figure 11 is' a fragmentary'si'de view of the ascending 'anddescending runs of the transfer chain show-ingmeans' for locking and releasing the cra'dle'i' Figures 12 to 16 show diagrammatically in elevation,'five positions of the transfer chain;

Figure '17 is an elevation of transfer chain and adjacent parts, showing ducts in position;

Figure 18 is 'a' diagram of the circuits of the ope'rating'motors: it Figure 18a is a detail view illustrating modified arrangement of-the starting switchg-and V Figure 19- is a diagrammatic table illustrating the succession of operations.

An-important-application of the invention be-' ing to-c'onveyer's for drying ovens for'fibr'e ducts, I haveindicated at 6 part of 'the'oven wall within which are mounted one or -more --duct-conveyers. 6a, fia 'are side frame's'forthe transfer mechanism. Five decks of conveyers are here shown marked respectively I, II, III, IV, V. Each conveyer comprises a substantially horizontal train'f of rolls '7 of equal'diameter and equallyspaced.

apart, having their'shafts or trunnions 8 rotatably mounted 'in" fixed bearings supported," as by brackets 9, from a rigid frame lo'within the oven. Th'e'shafts' project at one side, here shown" as'the right-hand side, beyond the oven where each carries asprocketwheel 11 splined or otherwise rigidly attached to the shaft or axis of the roll;"'

'Each series of sprocket'wheels 11 is engaged by the upper run of a continuous chain 12, driven from any suitablesource of power, not shown,

bights between successive rolls, where they are given free axial rotation during the drying operation by reason of the tractive engagementcf their surfaces with the smooth cylindrical surfaces of the rolls. By describing the rolls as havingsmooth cylindrical surfaces, I'intend'to indicate that they havesuch asubstantially un- 1 interrupted surface as to afford support fromend to end to ducts placed upon them and to exert tractive effect on said ducts due to surface friction only; When in this position, there is no members 16 are provided. These comprise flattened U -shaped members 1'7 carried by arms 18 fixedto a transverse shaft 19 as by set screws 20 so as to be adjustable to proper position and in alinement upon said shaft. A suitable number of these pusher members, for example five, may be spaced along the shaft. Two are shown in Figure 1, theintermediate three being omitted by reason ofthe breaking away of the conveyer along its central line. The shaft 19 is supported by end bearings 22 and intermediate bearings 23 on the frame of the machine. A strip or web 24, of fabric, such. as felt, is stretched across'the open side of the trough or U-shapedmembers 1'7 and fastened at the edges thereof to provide a contacting surfaceof the pushers with the ducts of a flexible nature which will contact witha considerable surface of the duct when the pusher is brought in contact with it, and yield sufficiently to prevent injury to the duct, which, at the time of its placing in the oven, is relatively soft and liable to be marred by any rough handling.

Each shaft 19 is provided at one end with an arm 25, Figure 3, adju'stably secured to the shaft as by set screw 26, and carrying an adjustable weight 2'7, and immediately within the arm 25 tliereis adjustably attached to each shaft, as by set screw 28, a forked arm 29 having cam follower rolls 30 resting upon a cam plate 31fixed tovertically moving rod 32 guided-in vertical bearings 33 fastene'd'to the frame of the machine. The

rod 32 is connected by'connecting rod 34 to the l outer end of pitman 35 fulcrumed at 36 to a standard 37"arising from the frame of the machine, and the pitman'35 is'actuated by a piston 38 ofa thruster 39'of well-known construction, the electrical connection of v which is such that when themotor of the thruster is energized, piston 138 rises, lifting the rod 34 and the arms 25, 29 until the pushers 16 assume the retracted position shown in Figure'Z, and'the d e-energizing of the mot'onallows the rod 32to drop, leaving the arms 25, 29 free to fall under the action of gra'vityexerted upon the weights 27 so that the pushers pass successively from the position shown in Figure 2, through those shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The weights 27 are varied or adjusted according to the weight of the cylindricalobject being'handledi In the Keller method of handling ducts as carried out in the present machine, it is intended that the duct, which is to be progressed through the oven, shall be placed in position in the bight between the first two rolls 7 of the train before the movement-of translation over the train of rolls is initiated, or if therefbe more than one train, thenfthata duetshall be in such position inthe'bight between the first two rolls of each train inusebe'fore such movement of translation is initiated, and that in the latter case, such movements shall all be initiated simultaneously. In 'order to so charge the conveyers, especially where a number of trains 'of rolls are employed, I employ a transfer mechanism which will now be described, but which in the specific-form shown is not a part of my invention and for which other forms of transfer mechanism may be substituted.

40, are endless sprocket chains mounted on the side frames 6a, one at each side of the machine, comprising side links 41 and sprocket pins or rollers 42 engaging upper and lower sprocket wheels 43 driven (by intermediate connections,

not shown), from the motor 44 (Figure 18) so that the outer run of the chains will pass upward close to the loading platform 45 and the'inner run thereof will descend in close proximity to the several decks near the outer edges of a series of inclined runways 46, one for each deck, each terminating at its lower edge close to the upper surface of the first roll of one of the trains of rolls 7. The loading platform 45 is preferably slightly trough-shaped to receive and retain a duct placed thereon, and is mounted on the front of the machine at a convenient height for the operator. A series of duct supporting troughshaped cradles 4'7 are mounted upon the chains and extend approximately the width of the machine as shown in Figure 1. These cradles (see especially Figure 7) are carried by bracket arms 48 keyed to transverse shafts 49 which are journalled at their ends in guide blocks 50 sliding in vertial guide grooves 51, 51a in the side frames 6a of the machine. The guide blocks are pivoted at their upper ends on studs 52 upon side links of the transfer chains 40 and are caused to retain an upright position while the cradles are being transferred in the open space above the guide grooves, by pendant weight beams 53 hung loosely from shafts 49. A lock arm 54 is pinned near one end of each shaft 49 and has a gate 55, see Figure 11 especially, engaged by a detent pin 56 on a detent arm 57 pivoted at 58 to guide block 50. The engagement of pin 56 in gate is assured by spring 59. Upon the free end of the detent arm 57 is a follower roll 60. During the upward movement of the guide block 50 in the guide'groove 51, the roll 60 lies in front of and out of contact with the side web6l of the guide groove, and the lock arm 54 is maintained in the upright position shown at the left of Figure .11. The descending guide groove 51a is extended on one side by the cam plate 62 with which the follower roll 60 engages when the guide block 50 is in the guide groove 51a, so that the detent arm 57 is lifted as shown at the right hand of Figure 11, raising the detent 56 from the gate 55 position at which the duct carried by said cradle should be discharged upon the runway 46, ap-

propriate to that cradle.

There are five duct carriers, (comprising each a 4'7 and the members for supporting it on the chain) equally spaced along the length of the loading chain and numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The shaft 49 of each cradle has, rigidly attached to it a yoke or bracket 63 carrying two follower The yokes 63 are arranged at' rollers 64, 65. such points on the shafts that roller 65 will engage one or other of thecam rails la,'2a, 3a, 4a,

' So, on cam plates 62a, 6217, each of which rails has a cam-shaped notch 66 in the horizontal plane of one or the other of the decks I to V into which the roller 65 may drop when a duct is to be discharged at that deck. The rollers 64 run in contact with the guide plates 52, 620, which have cam projections 6'? arranged opposite the cam notches 66, and in a vertical plane removed from those of rollers 64-, as shown in Figure 1, for initiating the tilting motion of the cradle. I have shown three of the cam rails 1a, 5a and 3a on cam plate 62a on one side of the machine and. the remain-' ing two, 2a and 4a, .on the cam plate 62b on the other side of the machine, andthe cooperating cams .67 are disposed also on opposite, sides. of the machine to correspond with the several cam rails and their notches 66.x

It has been noted that there are five duct carriers on the transfer chain and five decks of conveyers. The chain is moved for each operation of the machine the distance betweentwo of the cradles, but during two of these periods, the pusher mechanism is operated in one direction to initiate the motion of translation of the ducts across the train of rolls and in the other direction to restore the pusher arms to their normal position at rest, shown in Figure 2, in which position the runways 46 are. unobstructed bythe pushers to allow the charging of the first two rolls of each conveyer with fresh duct. Arrangement is made, therefore, to cause the charging of the five conveyers with fresh ducts during three steps only of the motion of the transfer chains. caused to, discharge during one step, two at the second step, one at the third step, and none at the other two steps while the pusher is being actuated. The series of operations will be clear from an examination of Figures 12 to 16 and 19. Each cradle is charged by the operator with fresh duct at the loading station 45 as it reaches the same. described, each cradle will discharge only at its appropriate deck, that is to say, cradle 1 at deck I, etc.,- as indicated at column 3 in the table, Figure 19. Figure 12 indicatesthe'position of the loading chain with cradle 3 atthe supply station 45. In moving to bring cradle 3 to this point, the chain has carried cradle 5 past deck V and deposited a duct there. In the table, Figure 19, the condition at the several decks at this point is shown" in first column. 3-the clear circles indicating previously discharged ducts on decks I--IV, and the crossed circle indicating the justdischarged duct on deck V. At. this moment therefore all decks arecharged, that is to say, a duct lies in the big'ht between the first two rolls of each train as illustrated in Figure 17. During the next two motions of thechain, indicated by. columns 4 and 5 .on Figure 19, the pushers are operated; the chain has moved By reason of the mechanism already To accomplish this, two cradles are through the positions shown in'Figures 13 and 14, 1

ly numbered deck I"V, and accordinglyno ducts have been discharged from the loading chain. The cycle then begins again with cradle 1 approaching the supply station, as shown in Figure 15. shown in Figure 14, cradles land 2 pass their corresponding decks I and II and discharge their ducts, so that decks I and II have been supplied with fresh ducts, as illustrated in column 1 by the crossed circles, and the remaining three decks have not been supplied. 1 In making the next movement to the position shown in Figure 16, at which cradle 2 is at the supply station, cradles 3 and 4 have passed their decks III and IV, and discharged their loads, so that as shown in column 2, Figure 19, four decks are charged. At the next movement of the train, as shown in column 3, following column 2, the cradle 5 is unloaded and all decks are chargedv ready for the next operation of the pusher mechanism.

Across the machine, approximately above the discharge end of each runway 46 (Figures 1, 7-10) is a slow-down device for the ducts running down In moving to this position, from that the runway, comprising preferably a wooden bar 68 forming an inertiamember carried by a hanger or: hangers 69 of flexible material, such as fabric, hung from brackets '70 fastened to a cross-beam '71 of the machine frame.

In the electric circuit diagram, Figure 18, the motor 44 for operating the transfer chain 40 and the thruster 39 for operatingthe pushers 16 are shown connected to a source of electric current at The circuit from the line through the motor is normally interrupted at the arm F of a two-contact switch E, The circuit of manual switch A, in parallel tothe motor, includes the solenoid 72 and normally closed switch B adapted to be operated by any one of a series of pins- 13 -13 v properly positioned upon the chain 40 to open the solenoid circuit at the right momentto stop the loading cradles successively at the loading station .45. The. arm E of the two-contact switch E, F is for maintaining the circuit closed when the manual switch A is released.

The circuit for operating the pusher members passes through the motor of thruster 39 and through the normally closed switchH of the twocontact switch G, H, and back .to thevline. A parallel. circuit includes the switch'D adapted to be momentarily closed by a pin D on the chain 40. The operating pin D is upon the chain slightlybelow the pin B so as to time the closing of the switch D immediately after the switch B has been temporarily opened by the pin B In circuit with the switch D is a normally closed switch C, adapted to be opened by the pinC attached to the chain 40at a position following that of pin D that will-allow the'full forward swing of the pusher members before the pin C opens the switch C. In'circuitwith' the switch C is the solenoid 73. The arm G of the two-contact switch G, H is in acircuit around the switch D to maintain the solenoid circuit when the switch D is open. The several switches B, C- and D may, as indicated in Figure 1, be mounted in acommon plug 74 inserted in a suitable socket in the'side frame 6a adjacent to the upward movingrun of one of the chains 40 which carries the switch operating pins B etc., C, D. A 1

The operationis as follows: Figure 2 shows the transfer chain'in position with carrier cradles l and2 supplied with ducts to, be treated and the cradle 3 approaching the loading platform 45, on which rests a duct 15 ready forloading. Atithis time carrier cradles 4,and 5tare-also empty, hav-i ing just previously unloadedducts at decks 4 and 5, and, as shown in Figure 2 and at column 3 of Figure 19, all the decks standcharged with fresh ducts. The next two operations of thetransfer chain, initiated'by thedepression of the manual switch A (for placing new duct upon the chain), will not discharge any more ducts'on'any of the decks but will cause the forward'and backward operations of the pushers, leaving them in the retracted position shown in' Figure 2., When cradle 3 reaches the loading station, the operator manually supplies it with a fresh duct from the loading platformand againstarts the chain. In the form of mechanism shown, the starting is accomplished when the operator presses the manual switch A, which closes the circuit of solenoid 72 and thus closes the motor circuit which is held closed by the switch E when the manual switch is released by the operator, and itremains closed until the chain has completed a movement and the next cradle 4 reaches'the loading station 45, at

which point the switch B is opened by the pinB just long enough to allowthe switch E, F to open,

1mg station closes the switch D whose operating pin D is, as will be seen on Figure 3, a short distance below the operating pin B The solenoid 73 opens the thruster motor circuit at H and closes the solenoid retaining circuit at G, and the cam'rod 32 moves downward carrying the several cam plates 31 away from the follower rolls 30 of the weighted arms 29, and the pusher shafts 19 are rotated to bring the pushers 16 from the position shown in Figure 2 into contact with the several ducts resting upon the first two rolls of each-train and carrying through the motion of theducts illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, which show the successive positions of the ducts on one train of rolls. The freshly supplied duct which liesin the bight between the first two rolls of the train is pressed upon by the pusher to move it away from tractive engagement with the first rolls of the train, the action of the pusher, cooperating with the lifting action of the second rolls of the train, raises such duct to bring it into contact with the duct which lies in the bight between the second and third rolls of the train. Thereupon a series of contacts take place between the several .ducts upon the conveyer as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The contacting surfaces of the ducts having a tendency, by reason of their tractive engagement with the successive rolls, to oppose each others motion, are prevented from relative rotation and scuffing, and the group of ducts move forward under the cooperating pressure of the pusher and rotation of the rolls until the pusher reaches the limit of its swinging motion, at which point the ducts settle into the several bights between the rolls, starting with the second roll, and continue there in free axial rotation until the next succeeding motion of translation over the train of rolls is imparted to them after the first two rolls of the several trains have again been charged with fresh ducts.

The gravity action of the weighted arms 25 is adjusted by proper choice and placing of the weights 27 so as to effect this feeding motion without injury to the ducts, and at such speed as 125 will complete the pushing motion, and also allow the retraction of the pushers while cradles'4 and 5 are being'brought to the loading station by two successive actions of the switches A and B. The switch opening pin C is, as shown in Figure 130 3, located at such point on the chain as to open the switch C when the pusher has completed itspushing motion to reach the position shown in Figure 6. The solenoid '73 is thereby deenergized, the two-contact switch G, H restored to the position shown in Figure 18, at which the thruster motor circuit is closed and the cam rod 32 is again elevated to its uppermost position, restoring the pushers 16 to the normal position shown in Figure 2, in which they are out of the way of ducts being discharged from the loading chain to the runways leading to the several conveyers.

During these motions of the chain 40, as each cradle f'l reaches the loading station 45, it is supplied with fresh duct, and when the next cycle of operations begins with cradle 1 moving from the position shown in Figure 14 to that shown in Figure 15, cradle 1 passes deck I and cradle 2 passes deck II, thus unloading ducts at these two decks, as shown at' the column headed l in Figure 19; in passing to the position shown in Figure 16, cradles'3 and 4 are unloaded a-t decks III andIV, and in passing to the position shown in Figure 12, cradle 5 is unloaded on deck V, and

so on; It will be noted and is illustrated in the table, Figure that hand-switch A and automatic stop switch B are operated for each step motion of the transfer chain, and that pusher centrol switches D and C are only operated when the cradles 4 and 5 are approaching the loading station.

The above description of operation refersto a condition in which all .conveyers are kept fully charged and in which, therefore, all cradles receive a load as they pass the charging station. If only one or more of the conveyers,owing,to diminished supply from the forming machine, a supply governed by the demands of the business,-is to receive ducts, only the cradle or cradles appropriate to the selected conveyer or conveyers, will be supplied with duct at the charging station by the operator, the remaining conveyers running idle, or being disconnected from operation, as desired.

Other means than the hand-switch A may be used for the intermittent starting of the machine in operation when an empty cradle reaches the loading station and there receives a fresh duct to be transferred to the drier. It may for example be automatically operated by the placing of the duct on the transfer cradle. I have indicated diagrammatically, by way of example, in Figure 18a, such an arrangement wherein the circuits in general correspond to those shown in Figure '1 18. Here the switch A, supported upon the ma-.

chine frame, is operated by downward movement of the cradle 47a which has slight capacity for vertical movement, as by being hinged at one edge, and which engages the free arm of the 'i switch at the other edge and is limited in its downward movement, by impingement upon a rigid part of its support upon the transfer chain.

I claim:- 1. In mechanism of the character described,

:the combination of a train of rolls for manipulating cylindrical objects, supply mechanism including a travelling cradle for cylindrical objects, means for tripping the cradle to discharge a cylindrical object therefrom, means for trans- "ferring the cylindrical object to the train of rolls,

and means for pushing the cylindrical object sidewise to impart to it a broadside movement of translation on the rolls.

2. In mechanism of the character described,

i;the combination of a train of rolls for manipuing cylindrical objects, means for supplying a cylindrical object to the train rolls, and a pusher mechanism for imparting a movement of translation to a cylindrical object on the train ;of rolls, said mechanism comprising a pusher, a

pusher retracting rod, actuating mechanism interposed between said rod and the pusher, and controlled means for reciprocating said rod to cause advancing and retracting of the pusher.

3. In mechanism of the character. described, the combination of a train of rolls for manipulating cylindrical objects, means for supplying a cylindrical object to the train of rolls, and a pusher mechanism for imparting a movement of translation to a cylindrical object upon the train of rolls, said mechanism comprising a pusher, automatic means for causing the advance and retraction of said pusher, and controlled means for initiating the operation of said automatic means.

rolls, and means controlled by the supplying means to cause the operation of the pushing mechanismQ i v 5. In gmechanism f the character described, thejcombination of a'train'of rolls for manipulate ingfcylindrical objects, means for supplying a' cylindrical object to thetrain of rolls, controlled means for'operating said supplying means, pushing mechanism for imparting a movement of translation to a cylindrical object upon the train of rolls, and means controlled by said supplying means to cause the operation of the pushing mechanism. 6. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a train of rolls for manipulating cylindrical objects, means for supplying a cylindrical object to the train of rolls, an electric motor for operating the supplying means, pushing mechanism for imparting a movement of translation to a cylindrical object on said train of rolls, a second electric motor for operating said, pushing mechanism, and electric circuits, one including a manual control for the supplying means operating motor and an automatic control thereof operated by the supply means, and the other including automatic control for the pusher mechanism operating motor operated by the supplying means.

7. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a train of rolls for manipulating cylindrical objects, means for supplying a cylindrical object to the train of rolls, and pushing mechanism for imparting a movement of translation to a cylindrical object on the train of rolls, said pushing mechanism comprising a pusher, means for positively retracting said pusher, and gravity operated means for advancing the pusher.

8. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a train of rolls for manipulating cylindrical objects, means for supplying a cylindrical object to the train of rolls, a pusher.

and a motor connected to cause the retraction I of the pusher.

9. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a train of rolls for manipulating cylindrical objects, means for supplying a cylindrical object to the train of rolls, an oscillatory, shaft, a pusher mounted on said shaft adapted to cause a movement of translation to a cylindrical object on said train of rolls, a weighted arm upon said shaft to cause the advance of the pusher, a reciprocable rod having a cam, an arm on the oscillatory shaft engaging said cam to retract the pusher, and a motor for positively operating the reciprocable rod to retract the pusher.

10. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trains of rolls for manipulating cylindrical objects, a plurality of pusher mechanisms for imparting simultaneous movements of translation to cylindrical bodies on said trains of rolls, means for supplying cylindrical bodies to all of said trains of rolls, controlled means for operating said suprolls, a vertically arranged endless conveying mechanism, adjacent to the'receiving ends ofv the trains .of rolls, and having means for carrying individual-cylindrical objects, means for imparting successive movements to the endless conveying mechanism, means causing the discharge of cylindrical objects from said endless conveying mechanism during a portion of its movements, and means actuated during the remainder of suchmovements of the conveying mechanism for simultaneously operating all of said pusher mechanisms.

' ALONZO B.,BR.ADLEY. 

